Panel attaching device



F. M. SMALL PANEL ATTACHING vDEVICE Oct. 21, 1941.

Filed April 8, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0.121, 1941. y .E M SMALL y 2,259,666

PANEL ATTACHING DEVICE I Filed April 8, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Oct. 21, 1941 PANEL ATTACHING DEVICE Frederick M.' Small, York, Pa., assignor to Martin- Parry Corporation, York,'Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application April 8, 1939, Serial No. 266,892

solaims. icl. 18scsf This invention relates to panel attaching de.- vices and more particularly to devices for attaching panels to walls or other structures so that the attaching device is entirely concealed by the panels.

An object of the invention is to provide an 4improved attaching device which is readily installed and which cooperates with a panel designed to receive the same to secure the panel to a wall structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attaching device which does not require drilling or other Work to be preformed upon the panel during installation and which is concealed by the panel.

A still further object is to provide a device for attaching panels to preformed metallic studs or furring strips without the necessity of boring holes therein or employing the usual securing members such as nails or screws.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description of the attached drawings of which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a device employed in attaching panels to wood studs;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section through a complete device in accordance with Fig. l showing the panels in position;

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 also showing a third panel at right angles to the panels shown in Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a View similar to Fig. 2 of another form of the invention upon an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary kview in horizontal section of a modied fastening device;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of a locking member for the device of Fig. 5;

Figure 7 is a horizontal section of the fastening device of Fig. 5 applied to a furring strip, and

Figure 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing a modified fastening device applied to a metal stud.

The device of Figs. l to 4 is particularly adapted for fastening panels to wooden wall structures and includes bridging members I0 adapted to extend between studs one of which is indicated at I I. Preferably the spacing between the center lines of the studs II is the same as the width of the panels employed andthe bridging members I0 are also of the same length as the width of the panels.

As shown in Fig. 3 the spacing members I 0 are preferably of channel cross section between studs and terminate in flat end portions I2 provided with upstanding lugs I3 having laterally extending portions I 4 parallel to the fiat portions I2 as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. The flat portions I2 are Vprovided with integral portions I5 adjacent the sides thereof which overlapsimilar portions I5v of an adjacent bridging member I0. The portions I5 of the adjacent bridging membersv I0 are provided with aligned apertures through which a fasteningmember such as a screw I6 .may be inserted to fasten the bridging members to the stud II. lAs shown jin Figs. 2 and 4 a clip Il is positioned upon the lugs I3 and held thereupon -by the laterally extending portions I4 of the lugs I3 Vand extends Ainto channels I8 provided in panels I9.

In installing panels b the attaching means shown in Figs. 1V toV 4, a panel is first positioned against the bridging members I0, and a clip I'I inserted in the channel I8 of the panel and slipped downwardly'7 over thelugs I3 of the bridging members. A second panel is then applied by sliding the same Vlaterally s o that a channel I8 thereof embraces the clip `I'I and then anotherV clip is inserted in the channel I8 of the other edge of the secondpanel.' Since the length of the bridging members I0 is equal to the Width of the panel, thelugs I3 and clip II are correctly spaced toy register with the edges of the panel. It will be noted that lthe panels I9 are arranged in abutting relationship and entirely conceal lthe fastening' device.' It is apparent that the bridging members I0 may be employed for attaching panels to other structures than the wooden structures shown, forkexamplathe surfacing material of a` wall or ceiling. `AIn Fig. 3 I have also disclosed a means for attaching a panel 20 positioned at right angles to the panels I9 so as` to cover the ends of the panel I9. Suchl a structure may be employed where a horizontal panel adjacent the ceiling or floor is desired. In this structurea member 2I may be inserted into a hollow portion '22 (see alsovFig. 2) running longitudinally of the panel I9 so that an "end of the, memberZI projects into the channel I V8 of the panel 20. A preferred panel VI9 is shown in more detail in,v Fig. 4 andl includes'A a sheet metal envelope 23 vs'urroli'nding a ller memberl 24, which may be formed of corrugated sheet metal. and aA supplemental sheet metal member 25 attached to the envelope V23 at 26 andihaving a portion 21 gripping the vedge of the Vfiller member 24. The panel I9 `of Fig. 4 is also provided with channels I8 for receiving the clipl II inthe same manner as the panel disclosed in Figs. l to 3.

The structure disclosed in Fig. 7 for attaching the panels I9 to a metal furring strip 28 includes lug members 29 having portions 30 extending rearwardly of the edges 3l of the furring strip 28. The edges of the furring strip are preferably inclined rearwardly as shown in Fig. 'l so that the lug members 29 are clamped in position upon the furring strip by the U shaped member 32, more clearly shown in Fig. 6, which embraces the lugs 33 of the lug members 29. As shown most clearly in Fig. the lugs 33 are formed with laterally extending portions 34 for retaining the U shaped member 32 in position. The lugs 33 are also provided with laterally extending portions I4 for receiving a clip I'I in the same manner as the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The clip I'I extendsl into the channels I8 of the panel I9' to retain the channel in position against the furring strip 28.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a modification of the device of Fig. 7 which can be employed to secure the panels to metal studs. The cross section of a portion of such astud is shown in Fig. 8 and is provided with channels 35 partly closed by portions 36 around which the hooked end portions 31 of a lug member 38 are engaged. The lug members 3B are provided with lugsl33, laterally extending portions 34 for retaining the U shaped clamping member 32 in position and laterally extending members I4 for holding the clip I'I of Fig. 7. The clip I'I for attaching the panels are applied to the lug members 38 of Fig. 8 in exactly the same manner as they are applied in Figs. 1 to '7.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an attaching device for fastening panels to a wall or other structure by which the fastening devices are completely concealed by the panel and which may be installed with a Vminimum of labor. The essential features of all of the modifications of the fastening devices are the same and by slight modifications panels may be attached to any type of wall structure including prefabricated metal studs or furring strips. No operations such as drilling or the insertion of screws or nails are required and it is merely necessary to assemble the fastening devices and panels with the wall members. In this latter construction the panels themselves are ordinarily employed as the means for spacing the studs or furring strips. A furring strip or stud is installed, a panel is then fastened thereto and a second furring strip or stud installed againstthe opposite edge of the panel but this procedure may be varied by installing the studs and panels a proper distance apart. I

While I have disclosed the preferred embodiments of my invention it is understood that the details thereof may be varied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: 1

1. A device for attaching panels having channels in the edge thereof to a supporting vstructure, said device comprising a pair of attaching members engaging opposite sides of a wall frame member, said attaching members having extensions forming bridgings extending between adjacent frame members, means for securing said attaching members together to clamp said members against said sides of said frame member and means secured to said attaching members and extending into the said channels of said panels.

2. A device for attaching panels to a supporting structure, said device comprising a pair of attaching members engaging opposite sides of a frame member of the supporting structure, said attaching members having extensions forming bridgings extending between adjacent frame members, means for securing said attaching members together to clamp the same against said sides of said frame member and means for connecting said attaching members to said panels.

3. A device for attaching panels to a supporting structure having frame members, said device comprising a pair of attaching members interlocking with the opposite sides of a frame member, said attaching members having extensions forming bridgings extending between adjacent frame members, means for securing said attaching members together to maintain the same in contact with said opposite sides of the frame member and means for securing said panels to said attaching members, said panels having a portion covering and concealing said attaching device.

4. A device for attaching panels having recesses in the edges thereof to a supporting structure, said device comprising a pair of attaching members engaging opposite sides of a frame member of the supporting structure. said attaching members having extensions forming bridgings extending between adjacent frame members, means for securing said attaching members together to clamp the same against said sides of said frame members, and clip members attached to said attaching members and extending into said recesses to secure said panels to said supporting structure.

5. A device for attaching panels to a supporting structure, said device comprising bridging members extending between frame members of the supporting structure, lug members at adjacent ends of said bridging members, and a clip member embracing adjacent lug members and having portions engaging said panels to secure said panels to said supporting structure.

6. A device for attaching panels having recesses in the edges thereof to a supporting structure, said device comprising, bridging members extending between frame members of the supporting structure, lug members at adjacent ends of said bridging members, and a clip member embracing adjacent lug members and having portions extending into said recesses to secure said panels to said supporting structure.

7. A device for attaching panels to a supporting structure, said device comprising, bridging members extending between frame members of the supporting structure, outwardly extending portions provided at adjacent ends of said bridging members, and means carried by adjacent outwardly extending portions for engaging said panels to secure said panels to said supporting structure.

8. A device for attaching panels having recesses in the edges thereof to a supporting structure, said device comprising, bridging members extending between frame members of the supporting structure, outwardly extending portions provided at adjacent ends of said bridging members, and means carried byk adjacent outwardly extending portions and extending into said recesses to secure said panels to said supporting structure.

FREDERICK M. SMALL. 

